Many have attributed this wonder to Jesus on the basis that he was God. Was Jesus God? Yes. Is that why he was able to calm the storm? No. The apostle Paul was clear to explain that Jesus had abandoned all his power in heaven and himself to his Father on earth (Phil. 2:6-7). Then how did Jesus calm the storm? WHAT KIND OF MAN IS THIS?
1) Jesus was a man of clear IDENTITY. Jesus knew who he is and whose he is. Luke 3:21-22 tells us, "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." The fabric of the kingdom of God is relationship. Jesus learned right relationship with his heavenly Father, demonstrating for us the pathway of righteousness. Right relationship with the Father prepared Jesus with a great responsibility - representing that relationship.
2) Jesus as a man under AUTHORITY. Luke 4:1-2 tells us, "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil." The devil knew the only way to undermine Jesus' destiny on the earth was to attack the very foundation or source of his destiny - his identity. Three times Luke records the devil attacked Jesus' identity - 'If you you are the Son of God...prove it.' Jesus did something remarkable; he chose not to defend himself or protect himself or even justify himself. Instead he chose to entrust himself fully to his relationship with the Father. Jesus SUBMITTED himself under his Father's authority, TRUSTING his Father to be his provision in every way and OBEYED his Father's words. This submission revealed a humility worthy of being entrusted with the very authority he was submitted under. The Father had found someone he could entrust his very words; words which would release the power of heaven on the earth.
3) Jesus was a man who released POWER. Many wait for some magical wand to bestow upon them the power of heaven. Others believe power comes from acquiring enough knowledge. Still others suggest Jesus was the only person who would ever walk in such power (he was God, right?). The truth is many walked in extraordinary signs, wonders and miracles before after Jesus walked the earth. The Old Testament is full of stories of people just like us who walked in the power of heaven. The book of Acts tells us many of the first disciples walked in heaven's power after Jesus ascended. And there have been many Christians in every generation since who have believed heaven's power is the children's inheritance, and have walked in various expressions of that power.
Whether it was Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Peter, Aimee Semple Mcpherson or John Wimber, heaven's power always flows through the same pathway - right relationship with God (IDENTITY), which brings us into alignment with the will of God through humility (AUTHORITY); and as we obey the will of God, Holy Spirit backs his will up with heaven's POWER. As Jesus took this pathway, so we are invited daily to submit ourselves to the Lord, learn the humility of being under his authority in each area of our lives, and obey his words. This will release heaven's power and establish God's reign and rule in the earth.
Jesus was a man full of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit led Jesus into his identity as a Son, under the Father's authority to release heaven's power.
No comments:
Post a Comment